title: A method for evaluating the bronchial circulation. Preliminary observations.
abstract: Due to the small size of the bronchial arteries, the bronchial circulation is difficult to study and remains poorly understood. We have utilized single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as a noninvasive means of studying the bronchial circulation. Imaging studies were performed in sheep before and after the introduction of a single pulmonary embolus. Digital bronchial arteriograms demonstrated the dilatation of the bronchial artery which is present on studies one week after embolization. SPECT bronchial perfusion scans reveal a wedge of increased activity that corresponds to a wedge of decreased activity on SPECT pulmonary perfusion images. Axial images available with SPECT provide information about regional alterations of bronchial perfusion not readily apparent on bronchial arteriograms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiles
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Blinder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001995:Bronchography; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012756:Sheep; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin